Tributes to South Yorkshire teen found drowned in ditch

FLOWERS today marked the spot where tragic teenager Lewis Eddleston was found dead - as concerns were raised over a lack of official help in finding the boy after he went missing.

Devastated friends left tributes to the youngster at the entrance to a field off Hungerhill Lane, Edenthorpe, Doncaster, where his body was found on Wednesday morning, three days after he was reported missing by his mum.

Last night friends gathered at Sandall Park for a candlelit vigil in his memory.

Lewis’ family yesterday criticised police over their handling of the search. His brother Michael said the family was very angry with the response after officers were called.

He said: “My mum has sat at home having to phone the police every few hours. But we didn’t get phone calls from them, no updates.

“We’ve just been sitting there having to do it ourselves.

“We’ve been on our own, apart from the community.”

Lewis’ mum issued an appeal in The Star on Tuesday, after reporting her son missing on Monday. A body found on Wednesday was formally identified yesterday as that of 13-year-old Lewis, and a post mortem examination found the cause of death to be drowning.

Lewis’ body was found in a ditch. The schoolboy had been playing with friends in a field just a mile from his home when he asked pals to look after his mobile phone while he went to the toilet at around 4pm – and never came back.

A police spokesman said it seemed Lewis died a short time after he was last seen, and his death is not being treated as suspicious.

South Yorkshire Police family liaison officers were yesterday supporting the family.

Graham Wakeling, headteacher of Hungerhill School which Lewis attended, paid tribute to his pupil: “Lewis was an extremely popular young man with a good sense of humour.”

“He was a lively character around the school and always had a smile on his face. Lewis will be sadly missed by pupils and staff.”

A heartbreaking tribute left by a friend at the field read: “Going to miss you loads bro. Wish we followed you.”